Ecclesiastes 12:5-14

⁵when also they are afraid of that which is high, and terrors are in the way, and the almond is despised, and the locust is a burden, and the caper-berry is powerless; since man goeth to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets;—

⁶before the silver cord be snapped asunder, and the golden bowl be crushed, or the bucket broken at the fountain, or the wheel shattered at the well,

⁷and the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God who gave it.

⁸Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity!

⁹Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he considered, and sought out, and set in order, many proverbs.

¹⁰The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and to write correctly words of truth.

¹¹The words of the wise are as goads; yea, as nails driven in are the words of members of assemblies, given by one shepherd.

¹²And, moreover, by these, my son, be warned! To the multiplying of books there is no end, and much study wearieth the flesh.

¹³Let us hear the end of the whole discourse! Fear God and keep his commandments! For this is the duty of every man.

¹⁴For God will bring every work into the judgment which there is upon every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.